David Weiss on the fine — and finer — things in life

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Asha: Great Indian Food in Tarzana

A once downtrodden stretch of Ventura Blvd. in Tarzana has come alive with the arrival of a Whole Foods Market last year, leading to an infusion of new businesses and what amounts to a vibrant street scene. There’s a new Starbucks, Chipotle and LYFE Kitchen all in a row, and a great new Indian restaurant, Asha, just a few doors down.

Since the disappearance of India’s Tandoori a year or so ago, I’ve found it hard to find a reliable curry fix locally, but a few lunches and dinners at Asha have solved that problem. Not only is the atmosphere a cut above the usual (cool ambient music, white tablecloths), but the service is attentive and friendly, and the prices quite reasonable for cuisine of this caliber.

Just so you know, I am all about spicy food, and of course Asha can scale the heat up or down according to your preference. I’ve tried their Vindaloo and Tikka Masala, both of which featured white meat chicken and a dense, flavorful gravy that I greedily mopped up with their garlic and basil naan. Onion bhaji appetizer ($2.95) was crispy, perfectly spiced and not greasy at all. They also have a roster of affordable lunch specials that come with either rice or naan bread.

Asha also features a dish made popular in the UK, a “balti,” or curries cooked in a wok-like steel bowl. Take a chance on something other than the usual fare and be prepared for a lovely surprise. They can be reached at (818) 578-6331 and are located at 18608 1/2 Ventura Blvd. Free delivery as well within 3 miles.

Who is David Weiss?

A Detroit native, David Weiss fled Motown for Los Angeles in 1978 and began to write for Daily Variety and the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, primarily as a music critic with a focus on jazz.

His own music career started soon thereafter, with the surrealistic funk band Was (Not Was), then various gigs as a composer and producer, working with Bob Dylan and Rickie Lee Jones among others.

In a parallel universe, Weiss has been filing golf and travel stories for T&L Golf, Golfweek and The New York Times and is a regular contributor to NPR's "All Things Considered" program, doing stories on music and all things cultural.